Man jailed after pointing BB gun at rail staff in Basildon – Essex

A man wanted for levelling what appeared to be a black handgun at rail staff in Basildon was later caught after calling a station help desk.

Mohammed Maow, of St Georges Court in London, wanted to know the time of the first train and where he could get his bicycle fixed.

Armed police arrived at Laindon station, arrested Maow, and found the gun in a drawstring bag he was carrying. The weapon was later determined to be a black pistol BB gun.

The month before, on Wednesday 4 April 2018, the 24-year-old had pulled a gun from his waistband and pointed it at staff at Basildon rail station when they stopped him boarding a train without a ticket.

He then immediately left the station.

On Saturday 28 April, he broke into a restricted area of West Ham rail station and stole a staff iPad.

In May, he boarded a train at Laindon and was witnessed pulling the same gun from a drawstring bag but did not use it to threaten anyone.

On Saturday 19 May, he used the help line at Laindon station. He was recognised on CCTV and was arrested by armed officers. He was carrying the same drawstring bag with the BB gun inside.

Maow pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing an imitation firearm, one count of possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and one count of burglary.

He was sentenced to 15 months in prison at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Monday 14 January.

DC Michael Stephenson from British Transport Police, said: ‘Maow would have been in no doubt that the BB gun looked like the real thing, and was well aware of the fear and distress that pointing such a weapon at members of the public could cause.

‘This is especially the case for the station staff, who quite understandably feared for their lives. He now has ample opportunity to reflect on the consequences of his actions.’